JOHANNESBURG -- Ann Eveleth, the US citizen arrested following land protests last week, was still in custody yesterday awaiting deportation, said Intelligence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.
She said at a media briefing on the sidelines of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) here that Eveleth's grace period to apply for the government to deal with her immigration status would have expired late yesterday.
Eveleth, who is a spokeswoman for the National Land Committee, was arrested on Thursday while visiting a fellow land activist at the Kempton Park police station.
Sisulu said Eveleth's residence permit had expired in 2001.
If she applied within the three-day grace period to have her status reviewed, the Minister of Home Affairs would consider the request, Sisulu said.
* The Department of Home Affairs has undertaken not to deport Eveleth until her case was argued before the Pretoria High Court tomorrow her lawyer said.
Chris Watters told Sapa yesterday that acting director-general Ivan Lambinon had given him a written undertaking to this effect.
Documents aimed at securing Eveleth's release from jail were served on the Home Affairs and Safety and Security departments yesterday.
The application also aimed to prevent her deportation from South Africa until the issue of her status is resolved.
The Landless People's Movement (LPM) meanwhile has demanded Eveleth's release and threatened unspecified action if she remained in custody.
"If Ann Eveleth is not released immediately, the national assembly of the LPM will take a decision on what action to undertake. We shall not be intimidated and we shall not be silenced," the LPM said in a statement.
"The LPM hereby calls upon the responsible authorities, including the Minister of Home Affairs Mangosuthu Buthelezi, to immediately release our friend and comrade Ann Eveleth from detention."
Eveleth, a US national, has lived in the country for several years.
Eveleth was reportedly in the process of applying for an extension to her temporary residence permit when she was arrested.
In its statement, the LPM said its interim national council met in Soweto on Sunday to discuss "the harassment meted against the LPM and its sympathisers".
The group said Eveleth's arrest was "nothing but the continuation and intensification of the harassment of the LPM by the state" which was designed to "intimidate" and "disrupt" its protests during the World Summit.
"The LPM will not be deterred, all activities will go on as planned." -- Sapa
She said at a media briefing on the sidelines of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) here that Eveleth's grace period to apply for the government to deal with her immigration status would have expired late yesterday.
Eveleth, who is a spokeswoman for the National Land Committee, was arrested on Thursday while visiting a fellow land activist at the Kempton Park police station.
Sisulu said Eveleth's residence permit had expired in 2001.
If she applied within the three-day grace period to have her status reviewed, the Minister of Home Affairs would consider the request, Sisulu said.
* The Department of Home Affairs has undertaken not to deport Eveleth until her case was argued before the Pretoria High Court tomorrow her lawyer said.
Chris Watters told Sapa yesterday that acting director-general Ivan Lambinon had given him a written undertaking to this effect.
Documents aimed at securing Eveleth's release from jail were served on the Home Affairs and Safety and Security departments yesterday.
The application also aimed to prevent her deportation from South Africa until the issue of her status is resolved.
The Landless People's Movement (LPM) meanwhile has demanded Eveleth's release and threatened unspecified action if she remained in custody.
"If Ann Eveleth is not released immediately, the national assembly of the LPM will take a decision on what action to undertake. We shall not be intimidated and we shall not be silenced," the LPM said in a statement.
"The LPM hereby calls upon the responsible authorities, including the Minister of Home Affairs Mangosuthu Buthelezi, to immediately release our friend and comrade Ann Eveleth from detention."
Eveleth, a US national, has lived in the country for several years.
Eveleth was reportedly in the process of applying for an extension to her temporary residence permit when she was arrested.
In its statement, the LPM said its interim national council met in Soweto on Sunday to discuss "the harassment meted against the LPM and its sympathisers".
The group said Eveleth's arrest was "nothing but the continuation and intensification of the harassment of the LPM by the state" which was designed to "intimidate" and "disrupt" its protests during the World Summit.
"The LPM will not be deterred, all activities will go on as planned." -- Sapa
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